Sweeper



April 6, 1954 c. B. RlcHEY ET AL 2,673,997 swEEPER Filed Jan. 19, 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 6, 1954 c. B. RcHEY ET AL 2,673,997

SWEEPER Filed Jan. 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 6, 1954 c. B. RlcHEY ETAL SWEEPER Filed Jari. 19. 195o 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 b "HH mM BS www;

ATTORNEY C. B. RICHEY ETAL April 6, 1954 SWEEPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 19, 1950 IN VEN TOR-S` April 6, 1954 c. B. RlcHEY ET AL SWEEPER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 19, 1950 Patented Apr. 6, 1954 SWEEPER oyal Oak, and Harold L.

Clarence B. Richey, R Geiger, Detroit, Mich signments, to Ford M Mich., a corporation 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a tractor mounted and operated sweeper for cleaning roadways and the like.

There is frequently need for a sweeper for cleaning the sidewalks, streets or storage areas surrounding an industrial plant. It is usually not economical for a small concern to invest in a regular street sweeper unit for part time use in keeping the streets and sidewalks surrounding its buildings free from light snow or debris. Many industrial plants, however, do have a prime mover on which a sweeper could be readily mounted and such prime mover is more often than not a tractor which has a multiplicity of uses about t'he plant.

It would, therefore, appear that a sweeper which could be readily mountable or demountable from the tractor, would permit such plants to enjoy the benefits of a sweeper Without a large initial outlay of capital 'and to further the usefulness of the tractor.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive sweeper attachment for mounting on a tractor for cleaning roads or sidewalks.

Another object of this invention is to provide h a sweeper for a tractor having a hydraulically operated draft linkage utilizing such draft link age for elevating the rotary sweeping element to a transporting position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sweeper for front mounting on a tractor and operable by a power take-olf from the tractor engine.

A further object of this invention to provide an improved tractor mounted sweeper which may be variably angled with respect to the line of travel of the tracto-r for depositing the swept material to either side for ease of collection.

The specinc nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, isillustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 -is a. side elevational View of a tractor showing the sweeper attachment of this invention mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view assignors, by mesne asotor Company, Dearborn,

of Delaware Application January 19, 1950, Serial No. 139,394

' taken along the plane 6-6 of Figure l.

arrangement of pulley-s having a power connection to the tractor engine and such pulleys drive.

Figure '7 is a side view of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along` the plane 8*8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is -a detail sectional Vview taken along the plane 9 9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective View of the front pulley mounting bracket.

Figure 11 is a plan view of the sweeper.

As shown on the drawings:

This invention comprises a tractor mounted sweeper wherein the engine of the tractor is utilized tol rotate the sweeping brush of the sweeper. A frame is mounted underneath the tractor and is so connected to the verticallyr swingable draft links of the tractor that the for. ward end of such frame may be elevated or lowered by such draft links to raise or lower a rotary sweeping element mounted on the :front` of such frame. The sweeping element is vertically, pivo-tally mounted on the fro-nt end of the frame so that the sweeping element may be adjusted angularly with respect to the line of travel of the tractor. A bracket is mounted on the front end of the tractor and such bracket supports an a telescoping drive shaft extending forwardly for connection to a horizontal shaft mounted above the sweeping element. A second system i of belt driven pulleys transmits power from the horizontal shaft to the sweeping element. The sweeper when mounted upon the tractor can be readily yraised from engagement with the ground surface by actuation of the hydraulically operated draft links for convenient transport.

In Figure l there is shown in assembled relation a tractor mounted sweeper comprising essentially a frame lll mounted underneath a tractor I l having a cylindrical sweeping brush Z!) |mounted on the front end of such frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. Brush 2|] is rctated by the power derived from. the front power take-olf shaft 30 provided on tractor ll through a system of belts and shafting as will be later described. Tractor l I, with which the sweeper of this invention is preferably utilized, is of well known make and includes a pair of transversely spaced draft links l2 pivotally mounted on the rear axle housing i3 as at it. Draft links l2 n t are vertically raised by the hydraulically operated lifting arms l actuated by the built-in hydraulic system of the tractor which is controlled by a manual lever (not shown). Rods i8 connect lifting arms i5 to draft links i2.

Frame l@ comprises a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally extending tubes il' bent inwardly at their forward ends to a` substantially V-shaped configuration, -best shown in Figure 1l, and such ends are there joined by welding to a vertically disposed tubular hub member i8 provided for a purpose which will later appear. The rear ends of tubes i1 are spaced apart by a transverse tubular shaft i9 (Figure 9) welded in abutting relation to such tube ends. Sha-ft i3 projects slightly beyond each tube i1 and on each end of shaft i3 there is secured by welding an upn wardly sloping arm 2i. The upper end of each arm 2l is pivotally secured to a depending bracket 24 mounted on rear axle housing i3 by a U-bolt 25 and clamp 250, as shown in Figure 1. A transverse. aperture 22 in the end of each arzp` 2i permits mounting of such arms on a lin-:h pin 23 provided on each bracket 24.

The front end of tractor Il is pivotally mounted on an axle 26 and a wheel 21 is rotatably mounted in conventional manner on each end of axle 25. A depending bracket 23 is secured to each end of axle 25 by a pair of bolts 3l as shown in Figure 8. A vertically disposed lug 32 having a bore 33 is formed on the inner edge of each bracket 28. A pair of spaced upstanding lugs 34 are weldedto each tube l1 of frame l0 and such lugs are disposed beneath lug 32 and support a transverse pin 35. A pulley 35 is rotatablyf'mounted on pin 35 between the upstanding lugs 34.

The front end of frame if) is adjustably suspended from bracket 28 by a pair of cables 31 respectively passing underneath pulleys 35 thence upwardly'through-bcre 33 of lug 32. The upper end of each cable 3l' is suitably secured to a washer 38 placed adjacent to the top side of lug 32 to secure the end of cable 31 thereto. Cables 31 extend rearwardly and a clevis 39 is secured to the rear end of each cable 31 as shown in Figure 9. Each clevis 39 is pivotally secured to a cross bar 40 as will be presently explained.

A drawbar 4I is mounted on the ends or" trailing draft links I2 in the usual manner and a pair of spaced, forwardly projecting bolts 42 are placed within spaced apertures 43 provided in drawbar 4|. The forward end of each bolt 42 is centrally secured to a spring anchor member 44 by a nut 42a. A pair of spaced coiled springs 45 have their'rear ends respectively secured to each anchor 44 by bolts 43 which pass ,through a suitable eye (not shown) on the end of each Acoil spring 45. The forward end of each spring 45 is connected to clevis 39 in the following manner: Clevises 33 are pivotally secured respectively by transverse pins 48 to a pair of spaced lugs 41 welded to the forwardly facing edge of bar 4B. A substantially semi-circular link 49, best shown in Figures 1 and 9, is mounted on each end of transverse pins 48, such links being arcuately shaped to surround the underside of fbar 40. A transverse pin 5t connects the rear ends of each pair of links 49 and an integral hook 5i formed on the end of each coil spring 45 surrounds pins 58 to connect such ends of springs 45 to each cable 31 through the connection of links 43 and clevis 39.

A cylindrical bar 52 rests transversely on top of draft links i2 as shown in Figure 1 and downwardly sloping arms 53 welded to respective ends of bar 52 and bar 40 connect such bar to cross bar 48. A stabilizing member 54 is pivotally mounted on each pin 23 and the rear end 55 of each stabilizer bar 54 is inwardly offset as shown in Figure 9 for welding to the adjacent arm 53. From an inspection of Figure 1 it will be readily apparent that raising or lowering of the draft links l2 will in effect respectively shorten or lengthen cables 31. Inasrnuch as each cable 31 is secured at one end to front axle 26 and is connected to the forward portion of frame I0 through the mounting of pulley 35 to each tube l1, the forward end of frame l0 will be raised or lowered depending upon the direction of movement of draft links l2. Springs 45 absorb undue strains or'shocks placed on the draft links i2 when encountering obstructions or depressions with the sweeper.

Referring to Figure 3, a quadrant-like member 5S is pivotally secured to hub i8 by a vertical bolt 51 such bolt'being rotatably secured to hub I8 by a nut 51a. Quadrant 56 is of plate-like construction and is provided with a substantially rounded rear edge 53a. A plurality of positioning holes 59 are provided adjacent the rear edge 55a on an arc having the axis of bolt 51 .as its center. The rear edge 55a of quadrant 55 passes underneath an overhanging Ibracket 50 welded to a transverse member 5I secured by welding to frame members I1. A pin E3 insertable through a vertically disposed aperture 64 provided in bracket G0 is cooperable with a selected hole 59 in quadrant 55 to secure such quadrant in the selected angular position for a purpose to be later described.

On the sides of quadrant 55 there are welded vertical plates 65 having forward portions 55 parallel to one another and a rear inwardly bent portion 65a. Each plate 55 is secured to quadrant 55 by welding and the forward edges of plates B5 are joined by a vertical plate 51 welded thereto. Near the upper forward edge of each forward portion G6 there is secured a'bracket-GS by a pair of bolts 59, which bracket transversely supports a brush supporting frame 18 (Figure 2).

Frame 1D comprises a U-shaped tubular meinber having a bight portion 1I and spaced parallel arms 15 for rotatably supporting the cylindrical brush 20. The bight portion 1I of U-shaped frame 10 is transversely secured by welding within transverse apertures 68a provided in each bracket 58. A pair of transverse tubular shaft housings 12 are provided, each having an integral, rearwardly projecting socket portion 13 receiving the end of each arm 15 of frame 10and the ends of arms 15 are welded within the sockets 13, as shown in Figure 1. Each housing 12 rotatably supports one end of a shaft 16 of brush 28 in bearing relationship. A pulley 11 is mounted on the Aright hand end of shaft 16 as shown in Figure 11 and is placed between right hand housing 12 and brush 20 for driving brush 20 as will be later explained.

A vertical, substantially U-shaped tubular pulley supporting frarne 18 is welded to the top of frame 10 (Figures 1 and 2). The left hand depending arm 18a of frame 18 as shown in Figure 2 is provided with an inwardly bent bottom end which is welded to the left hand arm 15 of frame 10. The right hand arm 18h of frame 18 is offset degrees with respect to the bight portion 18e of frame 18, as shown in Figure 11, and such arm is welded to the top of bight portion -Il Vof frame 10 adjacent to the inside face of right hand bracket 66.

A rectangular plate 19 is horizontally welded to the top of the right hand end of bight portion 18e of frame 10 as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 11. An inverted U-shaped base 80 provided with outwardly extending flanges 80a is mounted on top of plate 19 and is secured to such plate by vertically disposed bolts 8|. Bolts 8| cooperate with longitudinal slots 82 in plate 19 for adjustably positioning base 80 relative to frame 18. A short angular member 83 is welded adjacent the right hand edge of plate 19 as shown in Figure 2 and a transverse hole (not shown) is provided in the upstanding leg of angular member 83. A horizontally disposed bolt 84 mounted in the depending arm of base 80 adjacent angular member 83 passes through the hole in angular member 83 and check nuts placed on bolt 84 on opposite sides of the upstanding arm of angular member 83 provide a convenient arrangement for accurately adjusting base 80 for a reason to presently appear. A pair of spaced opposed pillow blocks 84' are secured by bolts 85 to the top of base 80 to rotatably support a shaft 86 transversely of frame 18 in such fashion that the axis of shaft 86 is of bush 29 is support the front end of a horizontal drive shaft |02 while the rear end of shaft |02 projects through a sleeve |04 as shown in Figure 7. Sleeve |04 defines a central pivotal mounting for the tractor front axle 26 and is supported by tractor frame members 9. Shaft |02 projects-through sleeve |04 to detachably connect to the crank shaft pulley |03.

disposed perpendicularly with respect to such .n

longitudinal tractor axis. A pulley 81 provided with a V-shaped groove 81a about its periphery is mounted on the forward Adjacent the left hand shown in Figure 2 there idler pulleys 88 and 89 and each of such pulleys is respectively provided with a V-shaped peripherial groove 88a and 89a. Pulleys 88 and 89 are mounted respectively on shafts 99 and end of shaft 86. end of frame 18 as 9| (Figure 5) and such shafts are welded to a plate-like bracket 92 secured by welding to bight portion 18e of frame 18. Shafts 90 and 9| are angularly disposed on bracket 92 as shown in Figure 5 to align a V-belt 93 surrounding pulley 81 with pulley 11 secured to the right hand end of brush shaft 16 as shown in Figure 11. Belt 93 engages the V-shaped groove 88a of pulley 88 in passing around one side of pulley 11 and such belt engages groove 89a in pulley 89 on returning from pulley 11.

Shaft 86 is driven by a poWer-take-of connection to the tractor engine provided on the front end of the engine. A frame 82 comprising a pair of spaced L-shaped side members 94 (Figures 6 and 7), constructed preferably of angle iron, are mounted on the tractor in such fashion that the upright portion 94a of side members 94 are adjacent the front of the tractor as shown in Figure 1. A pair of vertical plate members 95 are respectively welded across the rear ends of the horizontal portions 94h of side members 94 and a pair of bolts 96 inserted through suitable( apertures in plates 95 secure such plates respectively to brackets 91 suitably secured in depending relation to the tractor motor Ila, as best shown in Figures 7 and 10. The upright portion of each side member 94 is braced relative to the horizontal portion 94h by a diagonal brace 94e. A transverse angle iron support member 99 is welded intermediate the bottom and top portions of side members 94. One leg 99a of angle iron support 99 is horizontally disposed and a bearing block ship from bolts |0|. Bearing |00 is provided to rotatably is mounted a pair of e."

|00 is secured in depending relation` such horizontal portion by a pair ofy explained.

A substantially triangular shaped plate-like supporting member |05 is secured by welding to the forward end of sleeve |04. A vertically disposed plate |06 is transversely secured by welding to the horizontal portions 94h of frame 94. A pin |95a transversely welded to support |05 is inserted through a suitable aperture 06a in plate |06 thus mounting frame member 94 on sleeve |04.

On the extreme forward end of shaft |02 there is mounted a conventional clutch |01 which rotatably engages or disengages a pulley |08 with drive shaft |02. Clutch |01 is actuated by an oiset lever |09 pivotally supported by a forwardly projecting bracket ||0 comprising twospaced apart, horizontal L-shaped members having one arm projecting forwardly and the other arm welded to the front face of support 99. Lever |89 is offset as shown at |09a for connection to secured by welding to the face of support 99 and a plate-like lever I3 is pivotally mounted on the rear end of bracket l |2 by a vertical pin ||4, while rod-like link ||5 connects the upper end of lever |09 with lever 3. A rearwardly projecting rod ||6 is pivotally connected to plate-like lever I3 and such lever extends rearwardly to a position adjacent the operators seat whereby the operator of the tractor can engage or disengage clutch |01 without leaving the seat of the tractor.

Near the top of side members 94 there is provided a vertically adjustable, substantially ined U-shaped support member ||1 having a horizontal bight portion 1a and depending, substantially triangularly shaped side portions |1b. A vertical slot |1c is provided in each of the side rearwardly facing sur- ||1 may be adjustably tive to the tractor for a purpose to be presently Vertical bolts ||9 are inserted through transverse holes I9a respectively provided in bight portion ||1a near the ends thereof and such bolts extend upwardly through suitable apertures respectively provided in caps |20 welded to the top of each upright portion 94a of frame 94. A pair of nuts ||9b surround the upper end of each bolt 9 and one of such nuts "af-castes? Operation To use thev sweeper of this invention the desired working 'angle of brush '2e is selected by removing: pin t3 and swinging brush 2li to the desired angle whereupon pin 63 is dropped into the selected hole 5S in quadrant-55. Brush Z is then lowered into contact with the road surface by lowering draft links i2 in the vusual manner. .l

-Such lowering of the links in effect increases .the length of cable 3'! thereby permitting the frontend of frame i1 to drop and thus enabling the brush to contact the road surface. It is desirable to maintain a certain amount of tension in cable 31 so thatat least a portion of the weight of brushZB willbe'carried by springs 45 thereby providing a resilient mounting as well as keeping asubstantial portion of the brush weight off the bristles to increase the life of the brush.

With the tractor motor-running, clutch |01 is engaged by movement of rod l whereupon pulley ii is rotatably engaged with rotating shaft |02 to drive pulley |23 and thus rotate telescoping shaft |25. Shaft in turn rotates shaft 86 to. rotate pulley 8'! whereupon pulley 'IT drives brush 20. It should be noted that shaft |25 telescopes to permit raising and lowering of brush 20 -when it is necessary to raise such brush in order to clear obstacles in the path of the sweeper without disengagin'g` clutch |81. Raising of draft links 2 lifts bar 52 and as' such bar is connected to arms 53, such armsfwill be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1. Cables 3'! being connected to the rear ends of draft links |2'through the connection of spring and links S are then effectively shortened whereby the front end of frame It) is raised'upwardly to lift brush 2|] clear of the ground. Conversely, lowering of draft links I2 lin effect, increases the length of cables 31 thereby lowering the front end oi frame Il) until brush 20 contacts the ground.

It'will, therefore, beapparentfrom the above description that there is here'provided a tractor vmounted sweeper' which can be conveniently assembled to the tractor with a minimunrof time and effort and which is' driven by the front power take-ofi of the tractor thereby providing a selfcontained, lowcost unit. The sweepingbrushris readily lifted out of engagement with the road surface by actuation of the hydraulicallyfcontrolled draft links of the tractor so thatfthe -J sweeper may be quickly'and easily transportedvto the area to be swept. rIhe pulley and beltl arrangement provided for driving the brush is relatively simple and sturdily constructed so lthat the power losses will be kept toa minimum.

l0 It `will, of course,`be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated bythe scope ofthe appended claim.

We claim:

For use with a wheeled tractor having a powerlifted, trailing hitch link and a sleeve constructed and arranged to pivotally mount the ltractor front axle to the tractor, the improvementr comprising a first frame structure underlying the tractor and adapted to be pivotally suspended on the tractor rear portions for vertical movement, a rotatable sweeping element, means for horizontally adjustably mounting said sweeping element on the front end of said iirst frame 'in a position forwardly of the tractor, whereby the position of said sweeping element is adjustable :lo both horizontally and vertically'relative to the tractor a second frame structure, means for supporting sleeve, a sha structure and passing said second frame structure on Isaid ft journaled on said second frame through said sleeve for connection to the tractor engine, motion transmitting means on said second frame structure for drivingly connecting said shaft with said sweeping element, `said last mentioned means including a universally jointed, extensible shaft 40 permitting vertical and horizontal adjustment movement of said sweeping element relative to the tractor, and means for resiliently connecting said first frame structure to said power-lifted tractor hitch link to resiliently vertically posi- A tion said sweeping element in proportion to the h height of said hitch link, thereby permitting said sweeping element to yield upwardly to pass over obstructions.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown et al. June 26, 1951 

